Computer Builders. Help!

[Gravy]

So far I've built 2 computers by removing the innards of previous comps and installing windows on new components. No problems, they are running great. I Saved money as I had the cases(Alienware) and bought parts as I needed.

My problem comes in where one of the mobo's and CPU (P4 3Ghz) I removed from one of these comps because I didn't like the AGP/video card slot for todays games, is still good.
I figured, because I enjoy some of the older LAN games, I'd throw this mobo into a cheap case, onsale PSU, spare DVD ROM drive, old 80 gig HD, I'm good to go for network gaming w/ the early to mid 2000's games on a 3rd comp w/ my nephews.
So I picked up a NEW OEM Windows XP sp2 on the bay and when I intall it, everything is kosher until I try to update to SP3. It tells me my product key is not valid (Didn't tell me that when I input the code upon installing Windows) and will then refuse to let me log into windows.

The actual error code is: "Product key not valid for this media type. Please use correct installation cd to reinstall windows. Error code: 0x80040509."

So I figure 1 of 2 things is occuring:

1)The original windows software is tagged to the mobo so any other new intall I do will cause a conflict. (What I've been reading suggests that Microsoft want OEM software to be non-transferable to other comps)
-or-
2)The new wrapped Windows from Ebay is illigit.

I did windows "authentication check" at a Microsoft site and it says it's not legit. But I don't know if it's referring to an old install of Windows and the New install.

So, can a mobo retain info from previous Installations?
I'm not trying to break any laws, I have 3 comps and 3 copies of Windows, I just can't figure out the conflict and the Microsoft site will not give me a contact ph.#, just troubleshooting searches.

I Hope I conveyed my situation sufficiently and welcome any insight as to what I might be missing. It seems to run fine w/ SP2 and no further updates, but I'm not sure if this makes the rest of my LAN vulnerable.

 

[chfair]

interesting situation, is it a new hard drive?

to answer your question the mother board itself does not retain operating system information. however the operating system on the hard drive does indeed keep track, to a minor degree, the hardware on the system. i can not see this being much of a problem from a clean install if you formatted the drive. if you did a rename of the old xp install and just put a new install beside it that should not cause a problem unless you manage to boot into the old install.

in any case there should be a option some where to input a new product key or to authenticate. even if it will not authenticate online you can go through the process of calling microsoft to activate it and tell them that it is the only computer it is installed on (this is highly annoying and automated for the most part), in any case they should be able to get you up and running. if not you should be able to find out why this has happened.

hope it help

 

[laconic1]

So I picked up a NEW OEM Windows XP sp2 on the bay and when I intall it, everything is kosher until I try to update to SP3. It tells me my product key is not valid (Didn't tell me that when I input the code upon installing Windows) and will then refuse to let me log into windows.

The actual error code is: "Product key not valid for this media type. Please use correct installation cd to reinstall windows. Error code: 0x80040509."

Is your copy a Home or Professional version of XP? It sounds like most likely the key is mismatched for the type of cd used to install, like a retail key used with a OEM cd or OEM key on a retail cd, or mismatching home and pro versions. Dumb question but does the Certificate of Authenticity sticker match the cd?

 

[Big Trev]

Is your copy a Home or Professional version of XP? It sounds like most likely the key is mismatched for the type of cd used to install, like a retail key used with a OEM cd or OEM key on a retail cd, or mismatching home and pro versions. Dumb question but does the Certificate of Authenticity sticker match the cd?

It's odd - I'd expect that error on the initial install, not when trying to put on a SP.

1)The original windows software is tagged to the mobo so any other new intall I do will cause a conflict. (What I've been reading suggests that Microsoft want OEM software to be non-transferable to other comps)

Yep, that's what an OEM license is. It is for purchase with a new machine, and is forever bound to that machine.

What did you pay for this CD? And did it come in a shrinkwrapped cardboard sleeve, with a sticker on the shrinkwrap?

 

[SiBurning]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Genuine_Advantage

 

[Gravy]

interesting situation, is it a new hard drive?

to answer your question the mother board itself does not retain operating system information. however the operating system on the hard drive does indeed keep track, to a minor degree, the hardware on the system. i can not see this being much of a problem from a clean install if you formatted the drive. if you did a rename of the old xp install and just put a new install beside it that should not cause a problem unless you manage to boot into the old install.

in any case there should be a option some where to input a new product key or to authenticate. even if it will not authenticate online you can go through the process of calling microsoft to activate it and tell them that it is the only computer it is installed on (this is highly annoying and automated for the most part), in any case they should be able to get you up and running. if not you should be able to find out why this has happened.

hope it help

No, it's not a new hard drive. I used Derek's Boot and Nuke to erase it after the first time I tried loading SP3, still no luck.

For the life of me, I can't find the Microsoft Ph.#. All inquiries lead to troubleshooting and forum searches and all searches that hit for the error I get are slightly different problems.

 

[Gravy]

It's odd - I'd expect that error on the initial install, not when trying to put on a SP.



Yep, that's what an OEM license is. It is for purchase with a new machine, and is forever bound to that machine.

What did you pay for this CD? And did it come in a shrinkwrapped cardboard sleeve, with a sticker on the shrinkwrap?

I got it for...$40 from a "buy it now" auction on ebay. Most of the others I saw, bidding would end in the $50-$60 area. This auction had something like a dozen for sale "obtained from a store closing".

Yep, it was shrinkwrapped w/ a carboard inserted 10 pg. booklet w/ the tear off COA sticker that is supposed to be placed on the new build. On the outside of the shrink wrap was a sticker giving instructions on placing the COA sticker on the machine.
I figured it would be considered a new build even though the mobo, chip, and hd are used.

 

[perry]

$40 sounds cheap..

http://www.microsoft.com/howtotell/default.aspx - that stuff help any?

It really sounds like an OEM key and a retail CD or something like that.

 

[Gravy]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Genuine_Advantage

Wow, according to this, WGA checks my used Mobo Bios and my used Hard Drive serial number.

Data collected
Windows Genuine Advantage checks the following components:[13][14]

Computer make and model
BIOS checksum.
MAC address.
A unique number assigned to the user's computer by the tools (Globally Unique Identifier or GUID)
Hard drive serial number.
Region and language settings of the operating system.
Operating system version.
PC BIOS information (make, version, date).
PC manufacturer.
User locale setting.
Validation and installation results.
Windows or Office product key.
Windows product ID.

 

[Gravy]

$40 sounds cheap..

http://www.microsoft.com/howtotell/default.aspx - that stuff help any?

It really sounds like an OEM key and a retail CD or something like that.

The disk says "distribution w/ a new computer only", and it's a new build to me. The packaging seemed good.
I'm leaning toward Windows recognizing the used Mobo and Hard drive that had a previous different install of Windows.

 

[perry]

The disk says "distribution w/ a new computer only", and it's a new build to me. The packaging seemed good.
I'm leaning toward Windows recognizing the used Mobo and Hard drive that had a previous different install of Windows.

I wouldn't. MS doesn't keep tabs that way. You can put 1000 copies of Windows on one computer if you really wanted to.

I think you should get a refund from the seller.

Hologramed disc?

 

[dpm802]

If you can get it up and running again with XP-SP2, I would say go for it, and don't worry about upgrading to SP3. If you're just using it as a game machine, it probably won't make a whole lot of difference if you don't have all the latest and greatest patches.

 

[perry]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326904

Look at your product ID in My Computer properties as it says and make sure it doesn't match one of the ones listed..

 

[Gravy]

If you can get it up and running again with XP-SP2, I would say go for it, and don't worry about upgrading to SP3. If you're just using it as a game machine, it probably won't make a whole lot of difference if you don't have all the latest and greatest patches.

Yeah, it's running fine w/ SP2. I have auto updates turned off but since it is still open to the net through my LAN, I'm not sure if that makes my other computers vulnerable?

 

[Gravy]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326904

Look at your product ID in My Computer properties as it says and make sure it doesn't match one of the ones listed..

Nope, it's not on that list, but good thinking.

And to answer a question I missed before, Yes, it's a hologrammed disk.

 

[Big Trev]

It sounds like a legit copy to me.

Before you're putting SP3 on, have you done the product acitvation? If not, I'd try that first.

This KB describes how to get to the product activation phone numbers - if you continue to have problems, I'd try them first.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950929

 

[Confuzius]

I've had the same problem, fried a motherboard, replaced it, had to call MS and spend about half an hour getting a new activation credit. It thinks that you're trying to install it on a different computer, which is verbotten.

 

[Gravy]

It sounds like a legit copy to me.

Before you're putting SP3 on, have you done the product acitvation? If not, I'd try that first.

This KB describes how to get to the product activation phone numbers - if you continue to have problems, I'd try them first.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950929

I looked for this. While it's on my other two comps, it's not on the troubled PC. Instead, I went to a microsoft site that lets you click on a button and it checks for you. It confirmed I did not have a legit copy but I think it is conflicting a previous install w/ a new one.

 

[Gravy]

I've had the same problem, fried a motherboard, replaced it, had to call MS and spend about half an hour getting a new activation credit. It thinks that you're trying to install it on a different computer, which is verbotten.

At this point I'm hoping this is the problem and it can be solved w/ a phone call. When I get the time I'm going to search again for the Microsoft phone #. I get the impression they get bothered by calls that should have been directed elsewhere so they make it hard to find.

Thanks everyone for the input. While maybe not completely sane anymore, sharing and recieving ideas has kept me from going over the edge.

 

[norton]

Wow, according to this, WGA checks my used Mobo Bios and my used Hard Drive serial number.

Data collected
Windows Genuine Advantage checks the following components:[13][14]

Computer make and model
BIOS checksum.
MAC address.
A unique number assigned to the user's computer by the tools (Globally Unique Identifier or GUID)
Hard drive serial number.
Region and language settings of the operating system.
Operating system version.
PC BIOS information (make, version, date).
PC manufacturer.
User locale setting.
Validation and installation results.
Windows or Office product key.
Windows product ID.

The real sneaky part is the MAC address.